Friends and family mourn two killed in Surrey crash

A Surrey neighbourhood was shocked and mourning after a major car crash over the weekend killed two people and sent three to hospital.

A group of mourners visit the site of a double fatal car crash in Surrey. The unidentified people knew the two male victims through the Laotian community.

In the wake of the fatal accident, at around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, friends and family of the two victims visited the crash scene at 88th Avenue and 152nd Street, where they prayed and left behind flowers and notes. Two large bouquets had cards that read: “We love you and will always miss you!”

Monday afternoon, a group of mourners who said they knew the two dead men through the local Laotian community arrived at the makeshift memorial to pray for the dead men. They said the two men who died were middle-aged males originally from Laos.

The mourners said they knew the two men only by their nicknames, “Noy” and “Kam.”

“It’s so sad. Nobody expected this could happen. Everyone’s shocked,” said a woman who identified herself as Seng.

A neighbourhood resident, Teresa Gougeon, arrived at the corner by bike with a colourful bouquet, including Calla lilies and a blue candle.

Gougeon didn’t know the people involved in the collision, but said she worries about drivers speeding in the neighbourhood.

“I feel that 88th Avenue is the new freeway,” Gougeon said. “It’s a shame. I wish people would slow down.”

Flowers, photos and cards have been placed at the scene of a fatal crash in Surrey early Sunday. Dan Fumano/PNG

RCMP in Surrey said the crash involved at least three cars. A Toyota 4-Runner headed westbound on 88th Avenue in Surrey was trying to turn left onto 152nd Street when it was struck by an eastbound Hyundai, according to an RCMP release Sunday. After colliding with the 4-Runner, the Hyundai “deflected off then struck a third vehicle that was travelling westbound on 88th Avenue,” the release said.

One person was dead at the scene. Four people were transported to hospital by ambulance, and a second person was pronounced dead at hospital.

One person remains in critical condition, the RCMP release said, while two others are in serious but stable condition in hospital.

It wasn’t immediately clear which vehicles the deceased people had been travelling in, and police said no further information was expected to be released pending notification of next of kin.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or seen the involved vehicles before the crash to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Police in Chilliwack are also investigating a fatal crash. At around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, a car veered off the Trans-Canada Highway east of Chilliwack, killing one passenger, said Sgt. Mike Sargent of the Chilliwack RCMP.